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IMUXnOKDTNOS. 




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CONSTITUTION, in-LAAVS. 



t LIST OF .mi:mbi:i{s, &c.., 



OK TIIK 



f SURVKYORS' ASSOCIATION 



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WKST \i;\\ .IKIISKV 



ITMLISHKD 15V oRDKK <»!•' THK SOCIKTV 







CAMDKN, N. .1.: 
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PROCEEDINGS, 



CONSTirUTION, BY-LAWS, 



LIST OF MEMJBEiiS, &c. 



01' TJIE 



SURVEYORS' ASSOCIATION 



OF 



WEST NEW JEPuSEV. 



PUBLISHED BY ORDER OP THE SOCIETY 



CAMDEN, N. J. : 

nil 'A, SI I v\i-iMui 11 rriNii i;, \:\ MAKKKT 



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RATES OF 

SURVEYING AND CONVEYANCING. 



For Surveying (per day) S5 00 

For Mapping and Calculations, (per day) . . . . 5 00 

For Selling Beal Estate 1 per cent. 

For Selling Personal Property, wood 

lots, &c., without guarantee, 3 per cent. 

All incidental expenses extra. 

For Drawing a common Deed $1 50 

For " " Mortage 1 50 

For " " Bond 60 

For taking an Acknowledgment 50 



OFKI CERS FOR iMi;. 



W 1 L L I A M r A i: !i Y. 

\ ICi: I'UKSIDKNTS, 

G KU KG K i:. M () IIR ISO X 

W r L r. I A M II A I X K S , 
r, E L V () li 1) M. i; <) X II A M 



TREASUKKK, 

CL AYT OX L I 1' 1' T N (• () T T 



PKCRKTAHY, 

J () II X (• L i: M K X T 



STANDIXC fO>tMITTKK. 

JAMES L I P I' I XC OT '1\ 
SAMTEL V. CTTEW. 



LIST OF MEMBERS. 



William Parry, 


Cinnaminson, 


Burlington 


County, 


Clayton Lippincott, 


Moorestown, 


(( 


(( 


Franklin W. Earl, 


Pemberton, 


(( 


(< 


James Lippincott, 


Mount Holly, 


(( 


<( 


William Collins, 


Moorestown, 


({ 


(( 


Amos J. Marple, 


Marlton, 


ti 


(( 


Emmor Roberts, 


Fellowship, 


(( 


(( 


William Dyer, 


Medford, 


(( 


(< 


Henry J. Irick, 


Vincentown, 


<( 


(( 


William R. Braddock, 


Medford, 


K 


(( 


AVatson Newbold, 


Columbus, 


(( 


(( 


Samuel S. Downs, 


Tuckerton, 


(( 


(( 


Samuel Chambers, 


Mount Holly, 


(C 


C( 


Joshua Earl, 


Pemberton, 


11 


(( 


Jacob L. Eowand, 


Haddonfield, 


Camden 


County. 


Ezra Stokes, 


Long-a-coming, 


(( 


<( 


Samuel P. Chew, 


Chew's Landing, 


(( 


(( 


John W. Downs, 


Plurffville, 


(( ' 


(< 


John F. Bodine, 


Williamstown, 


(C 


(( 


John Clement, 


Haddonfield, 


l( 


(( 


John C. Smallwood, 


Woodbury, 


Gloucester 


County. 


William Haines, 


Clarksboro', 


(( 


(( 


Naaman W. Haines, 


Swedesboro', 


(( 


(( 


Alfred Ilowey, 


Swedesboro', 


(( 


(( 


John I. Sickler, 


Mullica Hill, 


(( 


(( 


Ambrose Whitaker, 


Upper Pittsgrove, 


Salem County 


George R. Morrison, 


Salem, 


(( 


(( 


William M. Cawley, 


Woodstown, 


(( 


u 


Belford M. Bonham, 


Roadstown, 


Cumberland 


County. 


Belford E. Davis, 


Shiloh, 


(( 


(( 


John H. Doughty, 


Absecon, 


Atlantic 


County. 



PRELIMINARY. 



By Invitation cxtonde*! to u few I'nictiail Surveyors of the 
CountiiM of niirliiif^ton and ('atiidcn, a mcctinj? was Ix-M at Mount 
Holly, N. J., on Tiu's<iay tho I'ltli of DoccnilxT, I'^C.l, at wlilcli time 
William 11. llnuldock, William Parry, Fnuiklin W. Fjirl, James 
Lippincott, William Dyer and Henry J. Irickof Hurlinpton rounty, 
and John Clement, of ('an)den County, were prcwnt. 

It hein;,' sii^i^estod that a society of Practical Surveyrtrs lio e«- 
tAblished, William Parry was aj'pointe<l Chairman, and Henry J. 
I rick. Secretary. 

After an iuterchanfje of ojiinions, it was Pesolvcd, — That this 
meet in jr adjourn to meet at Knglish's Hotel, in Camden City^ on 
Saturday the :2d day of January, A. 1). isiVI, at 10 o'clock, A. M., 
and that I'ranklin W. luirl, James Lippincott and John Clement 
be a committee to report a Constitution and by laws for such society, 
to bo submitted to siiid adjourned meetinj^'. 

Resolved, That an invitation be forwarded to the several Practical 
Surveyors of West New Jersey, to attend the same. 

The following paper was receive<l and read from Amos Hullock. 

MoiXT HoiJ.v, January 1st, ls<;i. 

I have received a notice of a meeting of tho Surveyors of West 
Jersey, held at Mount Holly, December l.'>tli, l^^i-'l, containing an 
invitation to attend another meeting to be held at Knglish's Hotel, 
Camden, on the Second of January. Did my health i>erniit, and 
my hearing enabh* me to understandingly take part in such disrus- 
5<ions as may l>e had upon the subjects proposed to be considere<l, I 
should certainly meet with you ; but as there is no prosi>ect of «uch 
being the case, I feel enough interested t«) endeavor to aid a.s far as 
I am able, and to give you in writing, some of the views on this 
subject that havo clalme<l my attention for the last forty years'. 

S<^)me fifteen or twenty years sinc<\ I attempte<l to engngi^ tho 
attention of tiie practicjil Surveyor-Jiu the manner now prop(.-j«-<l, but 
faile<I to find them at that tinte prepared to a«'t, and no advantage 
arose from the attempt. 



6 

I suppose that one of the subjects that will claim your considera- 
tion is, that Surveyors may receive for their labor a fair compensa- 
tion, which any customary price that I have known does not give 
them. Your united action on this may greatly aid their being more 
suitably recompensed. 

The difficulties experienced in the practical branch of the subject, 
in tracing old lines, and in which not only the Surveyors, but the 
community at large are deejjly interested, will, I doubt not, claim 
and recevie your serious consideration, to see whether there cannot 
be devised some method by which this difficulty shall be much 
abated, if not in the progress of time wholly removed. I suppose 
it will be admitted by all Surveyors, that much the larger portion 
of these difficulties arise from the angles of the survey, referring 
to the magnetical oneridian, which is constantly changing its 
place, and not in a constant ratio, rendering it difficult, if not in 
many cases impossible to know what variation of the needle should 
be allowed. 

In my intercourse with a number of eminent mathematicians of 
our country, I have discussed this subject, have found them 
uniformly of one mind, that surveys should return the angle of a 
true meridian line, instead of the magnetical one, which would give 
a constant angle instead of a variable one. 

This, to make it effective, I am aware, would require the action of 
the Legislature, and much care and deliberation be necessary in the 
framing a law that should carry the subject out in such a way that 
the community at large would be benefitted by it. I believe with 
proper care, it may in time be accomplished, and hope you will 
take such action as shall give this part of the subject full and 
careful consideration. Yours, &c., 

AMOS BULLOCK, M. D. 

P. S. The law passed by our last Legislature, relative to meri- 
dian lines, in my view, can afiford no relief even if carried out. 
Much more will be necessary to make it advantageous to the com- 
m unity, or afford relief to the Surveyor. A. B. 



January 2d, 1864. 
Persuant to a general invitation to the Practical Surveyors of West 
New Jersey, to meet at the time and place in said notice specified, 
William R. Braddock, Franklin W. Earl, William Parry, James 
Lippincott, Samuel S. Downs, William Dyer and Clayton Lippin- 
cott, of Burlington County, Jacob L. Rowand, John J. Sickler, 
Ezra Stokes and John Clement, of Camden County, John H. 
Douglity, of Atlantic County, George 11. Morrison and Ambrose 
Whitaker, of Salem County, Belford M. Bonham and Belford E. 



IhivL-t, of CumlxTland County, met at tlie West Jorsoy Hotel, 
Cuiiulcii ( ity, X. J. 

Thu iiit'oting was orj^mi/xtl by tho selection of Willhim Parry, um 
chairman, and John C'lcnient, stvretary. 

Tho coniniittfo appointed at tlio previous inccetinjf, reported a 
Constitution and by laws, wliiih after sonio ainen(lnu>nt.H and 
additions, were adopted, and a society establisljcd witli the title of 
••The ^VB.sotiATioN- ok I'uacticai, Sluvkyous <>f Wekt Nkw 
Jkiwky.'* 



J 



V i; i: A M i;li:. 

Viewing; thr -^urvrs in;,', laying (tut and dividing' of land, tho 
st'ttlenii'iit of boundaries and nionuMU'nt-;, and tlic convryinfj, 
transfi-rrin;^ ami a>si^nin}^ of real ostate in a proper and lefjjil 
manner, as ^'ivin;; stability and value to property, in the doin;; of 
which Practical Surveyors lar^jely participate; and, bolievin;; that 
u means of discussion and interchange of opinions amonj? this cla-na 
of men would lead to good results; we, the undersi^neil, do hereby 
form an<l establish a society, to bo called "The Ass^iciation of 
Tractit-al Surveyors of West New Jerse'y." 

That the objects and purposes of this Association are to (li><'us.s all 
matters pertaining to pnictical surveying and conveyancing; to 
exchange and compare sentiments and opinions that may advance 
and dcvelopethi" science, and adopt such measures, rules and regula- 
tions as will wcure these advantages to the Assm-iation. 

CON«TITn'I()\. 



ARTICLE I. 



The otHccrs of this Association sliall consist of a President, three 
Vice-Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer, all of whom shall Ik? 
electe<l by ballot, at the annual meeting on the first Tuestlay in 
January in each year, and hold their respective oftlces until others 
are electeil. 

AUTK Li: 11. 

Any Practical Surveyor in the District of West New Jersey shall 
1)C eligible its a member of this Association, upon being e|e»t<-<l by a 
majority of the meml>ers present at any stato<l nnvting of Niiil 
Association, at the time of such election. 



10 



ARTICLE III. 

Five members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of 
business. 

ARTICLE IV. 

The Constitution and By-Laws may be altered or amended by a 
vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting, 
notice in writing of the said proposed alteration or amendment, 
having been given at any previous meeting. 



r> ^ - L \ w « 



AHTKLK I. 

The I'rcMuUMit shall Imvi' a ;,'on(*raI supcrintciKU'iice of all tlio 
afltiirs of the As.*HX'iatioii, i)ri"side at its jiicetiii^'s, and a|i|i(ii!if ;ill 
coininittecs, unless otherwise direetetl. 

AKTK Li: II. 

The S<HTotary shall keep corrirt minutes of all proceedings^ at the 
buHintiid niei'tinijs, and rej»ort the same at the next stilted meeting, 
and give notic« to members of the meeting of the Association. 

AKI'K I.i: III. 

The Treasurer shall receive, keei», and aeoount for all monies that 
may come into his hands, and rei)ort at every stilted meeting of the 
Association of his accounts, and the receipts and disbursements of 
the same. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Everj' person on becoming a member of this A.ssociation, shall 
pay one dollar to the Treasurer, and shall pay sueh sums of money 
thereafter as may be assessed upon him, for the expense of said 

Association. 

ARTICLE V. 

The order of business shall be as follows : 

1. Reading of minuter of previous meeting. 

2. Roll call and collection of dues. 

3. Nomination and election of new members. 

4. Reports of ( Xlicers and Committees. 

5. Unfinished businc*ss of former luecfings, 

6. New business. 

7. ?'lections. 

ARTICLE VI. 

All papers read before the A.ssociation shall be prcscr\e<l and re- 
corded by the Secretary in a book to be i)rocured for that puri)OW, 
and all Rules and Regulations adopte<l by the same shall berc\x)rdcd 
ai\d filed. 



12 

ABTICLE VII. 

That discussions before the Association shall consist in matters 
pertaining to the best means of securing accurate measurement to 
land; the use of instruments; their objections and advantages; length 
of chain ; its construction and application ; the variation of the 
needle, diurnal and annual ; local attraction, how avoided and over- 
come ; the preservation of Surveyors' marks on line trees ; their 
age, and proper manner of counting the age of said marks ; and all 
other things touching the business of a Practical Surveyor. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

That each Surveyor be requested to report his "mark" to the 
Association, and that the same be recorded ; and that the marks of 
ancient Surveyors be procured and recorded. 

ARTICLE IX. 

There shall be a Standing Committee of four elected at the first 
annual meeting, two of whom shall hold ofi&ce for one year, the 
others for two years, (so that two new members shall be elected 
every year,) who, together with the President, shall examine th« 
qualifications of members who apply for a certificate, and if found 
capable, issue a certificate in the name of the Association, signed by 
the President and Secretary to them. 

ARTICLE X. 

The first annual meeting of the Association shall be held on the 
first Tuesday of January, Anno Domini eighteen hundred and six- 
ty-five, (1865,) and of each year thereafter on said day, at Camden 
City, Camden County, New Jersey, at ten o'clock in the forenoon of 
said day. In elections, a majority of the members voting shall be 
necessary to a choice. 

ARTICLE XI. 

The Association will hold its stated meetings on the second Tuesday 
of August in each year, at such place as the Association may direct 
at the annual meeting next preceding such stated meeting, and 
the President shall have authority to call special meetings whenever 
so requested in writing by three members of the Association. 



rR()CKi:niN(;s of the society 



*'The associntlon of Prneti«il Surveyors of ^V est New Jersey."— 
Upon an cleition held for oflloers, tlie followiii;,' persDiis wero 

HOleeted : William Parry, President ; (layton Lipiiinrott.lTrea-^urer; 

John (lenient, Si-cretary ; fJeorge II. Morrison, William H. Bnid- 

doek, Jaeoh L. Rowand, \'ice Presidents ; Clayton Lippincott, Jaccib 

li. Rowand, [one year,] John II. Doughty, John C. Small wood, 

I two years], Standing Committees : 
On motion Franklin W. ICarl, K/.ra Stokes and James Lippincott 

were appointed a committee, to fix ui>on the i»rice of surveying and 

conveyaneing. 
On motion, ailjourne<l to meet at the same place on Monday, the 

ISth, inst., at Ht A. ^f. 

Adjournal. JUllN CLEMKNT, Sec'y. 

Jam Any l'^th, 1HG4. 
The society met pursuant to adjournment, llou. AN'illiam Parry, 

Pre-ident, in the Chair. The minutes of the last nK'eting,'were read 

and approvwl. 
Th(» committee to fix compensation for surveying and r-onvey- 

ancing, repcjrted as follows : 

Surveying i per day; $ TkOO 

Mapping (per dayj ."i.W) 

For .-selling real eastate, one per cent, 

1m )r selling personal property, ] 

wood lots, Ac, without guarantee > '.i per cent. 

All Incidental ICxpenses extra. ) 

Deed, I1..V) 

Mortgage, 1.60 

Bond, 60 

Acknowledgement, .'lO 

The soc-iety ordered tlie next ptat<'d meeting to he lield at Camden 
City, on Tues^lay the 9th of August, at 10 A. M. 

lirsotrrd, Tliiii (he s-cretary, Imvc the constitution and by laws, 
printed in ].;unpli!et form. 



14 

Besolved, That the discussion before the next stated meeting, be 
"The variation of the Needle." 

The question of the "True Meridian" being canvassed. 

Resolved, That William Parry, Esq., be a committee to examine 
the law now before the Legislature of New Jersey, to establish the 
same, and if by him deemed expedient, to call a special meesting of 
this association to obtain the opinion of the same thereon. 

The following named gentlemen, reported their "marks." 

William Parry, a blaze with one hack above and one hack below 
the same. 

Clayton Lippincott, a blaze with two hacks above and one hack 
below the same. 

Franklin W. Earl, a blaze with two hacks above and three below 
the same. 

James Lippincott, a blaze with three hacks below the same. 

William Collins, a blaze with two hacks below the same. 

Emmor Roberts, a blaze with one hack above and one hack below 
the same. 

Amos J. Marple, a blaze with hack above and hack 

below the same. 

William Dyer, a blaze with one hack above and two hacks below 
the same. 

John Clement, a blaze with two hacks above and three below the 
same. 

John J. Sickler, a blaze with one hack above and two hacks 
below the same. 

Ezra Stokes, a blaze with one hack above and one hack below 
the same, and one hack in the blaze. 

Belford M. Bonham, a blaze with three hacks below the same. 

Belford E. Davis, a blaze with three hacks below the same. 

Ambrose Whitecar, a blaze with three hacks below the same. 

John C. Smallwood, a blaze with one hack above and two hacks 
below the same. 

William Haines, a blaze with two hacks above and one hack 
below the same. 

William M. Cawley, a blaze with one hack above and two below 
the same. 

Henry J. Irick, a blaze with three hacks below and two hacks in 
the same. 

Samuel P. Chew, a blaze with one hack above and one hack 
below the same. 

Jacob L. Rowand, a blaze with one hack above and two hacks 
below the same. 

Joshua Earl, a blaze with one hack below the same. 

Alfred Howey, a blaze with, Naaman Haines, a blaze with, 



ir, 

(Jcor^jo Rykcs, a blu/.c wilh one hack al>ovo, one in, ai»<l two hiuk.f 
l)oI«)\v the same. 

Ivhvard Hr'mlcy, a Ma/.«' witli two hacks alK)v».' and ono hurk 
below the same. 

Saniuol J. Osborn, a blaze with two harks above and one hack 
below the same. 

Ihivid .1. C. Uof^ers, a bhi/o with two hacks above and one hack 
below the same. 

Also the "Marks" of rractind Surveyors now ilceejwed. 

William Sharp, a blaze with ono hack above and one below the 
surao 

John f'lemj'iit, ablaze wilh two hacks above and three hacks 
below the siune. 

Charles 11. Frrnch, a blaze with one hack above and (»no below 
the same. 

Joshuas. Karl, a blaze with two hatks al)ove an<l three hack- 
below the sanu*. 

(Jcor^'e Miekle, a l)!a/.e with two hacks above and two hacks below 
the same. 

William Iriek, (the elder,) a blaze with throe hacks below the 
same. 

Job Irick, a blaze with tliree liarks below tlie same. 

Samuel Cawley, a blaze with two hacks above and thre«' harks 
below the same. 

William White, a blaze with four hacks lielow the same. 

Samuel White, a blaze with two hacks above and three hacks 
below the siime. 

Joseph Uisley, a blaze w itii three hacks above and three hacks 
below the same. 

Is;iac Ilinchman, a blaze with two hacks above and two hacks 
below the same. 

(Jervas Pharo, a l)Iaze w ith three hacks below the same. 

John S. Smith, a blaze with one hack above, one in, and two 
hacks below the -ame. 

Samuel Kmley, a blaze with one hack al>ove and two hacks b<'low 
the same. 

Thontas De Bow, a blaze with one hack above and two hacks 
below the same. 

James P. Disbrow, a blaze wilh two hacks above and twr» hacks 
below the sjtme. 

Francis W. Mrinley, (Surveyor (ienenil of I-jutt Jersey, ) ablaze 
with two hack'* above and one below the same. 

Adjourne<l. JOHN CLKMENT, Sec'y. 



16 

August 9th, 1864. 

The society met persuant to adjournment, William Parry, Esq., 
in the chair. 

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. 

John C. Smallwood and William Haines, of Gloucester County, 
and John W. Downs, of Camden County, were elected members. 

Mr. Parry, reported upon the duties imposed upon him, concern- 
ing the "Meridian Line" the law of 1863 being so amended as to be 
practical and beneficial to surveyors. 

MERIDIAN LINES. 

At the last session of the Legislature an act was passed requiring 
the proper authorities of each county to erect a pillar or monument, 
on which should be marked the true meridian line, and prescribing 
penalties to be inflicted upon any person who should mutilate such 
monument. A defect in this law was that no penalties were inflicted 
upon surveyors and others who disregarded it ; as a natural conse- 
quence, the law has been nearly a dead letter. This has caused 
much complaint, and there has been quite a general demand for an 
amendment to make the law more effective. 

Yesterday, (Tuesday) Mr. English, (who prepared the bill of last 
year) introduced a bill supplementary to the law of last year, and 
intended to remedy its defects, which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary. The first section of the bill provides that another 
pillar shall be erected in each county — one hundred feet distant from 
the pillar heretofore authorized— on which shall be placed a distinctly 
visible needle point ; the pillar to be protected by the same restric- 
tions and penalties as in the former law. 

The second section provides for the means of ascertaining the 
true meridian line by the erection of a fair sight on the pillar first 
authorized, in such a manner that a straight line passing through 
the centre thereof shall strike the centre of the needle point. 

Section three enacts that the Chosen Freeholders of each county 
shall provide and keep a standard measure of one rod in length by 
which Surveyors may test their chains. The fourth section requires 
the Freeholders to have the latitude and longitude (reckoning from 
Washington) of the pillar ascertained and marked on the pillar. 

The fifth section requires each Surveyor to return with his certi- 
cate of any survey, a true statement of the variation from the true 
meridian of his compass at the time of making such survey, and to 
deposit a copy of the same with the County Clerk, under a penalty 
of $50. The sixth section fixes the fees of the Clerks of Counties. 

The bill strikes us as a good one and necessary, and we hope that 
it will be passed. Great trouble is caused at every term of the 



17 

Courts, l>y ri'ii-oii nithc variuliuii in «iir\i \-. TIh' bill in nilculaUtl 
to pH'Vciit thin ill tlur fiitiirt'. 

Mr. I'arry snlimitt«<l a piipcr, nliouiiitjllic variation of tlieuw<Ile, 
In his own pnuMicfconvcriiij; a spac<? of hoiiic tuinty yraf'. 

\*AKi\TioN OK Nr.KKr.i:. 
Line for .I(h. Harri-', 

M mo. :U\, isi:;, beariii'^' N. .Jl l-. \\ . 
4th MX). i!Ist. ls(;|, N. '.W .10' W. 



21 ytnir^' variation, I' l-V 
Average .'»J niinutc-i per year. Siirveyeil lK)tli times by 

WlM.IAM Taukn 



Line run for Charles Je-wup, by John Kvans, Surveyor. 
12th mo. Ith, l«.r., N. .{«»' iUV E. 

•kl mo. 2siJi, lS(;i, X. :{7' .|.j' K. 



21) years' variation, V 10' 
Average :\\ minutes per year. Surveyed last time by 

WiM.iA.M Pakhv. 

Mr. Tarry, presentc<l Profe.ssor Cook's report to tin? FrcH-'holders 
of MitMlosex County, N. J., njion true Meridian Lini's, which was 
read and orderwl to be tiletl. 

TIKI'DIIT ()!' PTinri'SSOU COOK riNiX TIMT AinilDI AX 

LIN IX 

'J'u J. litis Ku.-is, />'/., iJiiutor of the Jioanl dJ L7iu.cn I rcthoUli rs of 

f/n' (himtt/ of MidiUt'j«,r, S/alr of Xiic Jtmcy : 

Sir— In aocordaneo with the resolution of the Hoard of I'reehold- 
crs, passeil May 12, 1><(!;{, I have established a True Meritlian Line 
at the County Seat in New Hrunswiek. The law of the State 
re<iuire<l the creetion " of a good and substantial pillar ujnm \\ ' 
summit there shall be tlrndy and imtnovably fixed a brass \ 
in whieli shall be indtMitrd a line, imlieating the true meridian, ami 
to enclose and j>rotect the same i)roperly." This was cjirried 
out as follows: a granite post six feetj long and one foot 
square, was set three feet in the groun<l nndj firmly f:wtcne<I by 
means of stone-cutters' chips and hydraiAlic cement ; the upper 
part was cut so as to taper from one fo«jt at the surface of the ground 
to seven inches at the top, where the stone was so cut away as to 
allow a circular brass plate seven inches in diameter with adt^s^-end- 
ing flange of one and a half Inches, to fU accurately upon it. Tho 
above mentioned brass plate was then faateneil iMTmanently ujwn 



18 

the post by mecans of brass screws which were driven into holes 
drilled in the stone. The True Meridian was indented upon this 
plate. 

In order to make practical work of testing compasses by the line 
as simple as possible, a second granite post precisely like the first, 
and capped in a similar manner with a brass plate, was set upon 
the same meridian at a distance of 106 feet from the first post, care- 
fully adjusted in its place, and then fastened. 

To bring the compasses to be tested accurately upon the line, the 
centres of the two brass plates are fitted alike to receive screws ; the 
head of a compass staff" without the ball is screwed into one of the 
plates ; and a slitted sighting piece into the other. The ball of the 
compass which is to be tested is fastened in the above mentioned 
staff-head, and the compass itself beiug placed on the ball, is 
accurately upon the line. The instrument is then turned so as to 
bring the other post and sighting piece exactly in range. The 
reading of the compass then is the right variation. To verify the 
correctness of the observation, the staff'-head and sighting piece are 
made to change places, and a reverse bearing is taken. 

When not in use the staff'-head and sighting piece are unscrewed, 
put in a case and deposited in the County Clerk's Office. The 
openings in the plates are closed by screws driven in by means of a 
key. The substantial post and plain brass plates are such as to be 
scarcely liable to injury if left entirely uni)rotected, but to save them 
from scratches or other injuries they have wooden covers over them. 

The line between these , posts was, when the posts were set, true 
to within one minute of a degree ; and as the movement of one of 
the posts an inch would involve an error of only three minutes, it is 
not apprehended that any unnoticed change aff"ecting the usefulness 
of the line will be produced by frost or other agencies. 

The variation of the needle at 3 o'clock, P. M., on the 28th of 
September, 1863, was 6 deg. 12 min. West. On the 10th of October, 
1864, at 3^ o'clock, P. M., the variation was 6 deg. 12 min. W. 
On the 8th of February, 1864, the variation at 9 o'clock, A. M., was 
6 deg. 3 min. W., at 11 A. M., it was 6 deg. 15 min. W., and at 4 
o'clock, P. M., it was 6 deg. 5 min., W. From all these the mean 
variation at the beginning of 1864 may be put down at 6 deg. 10 
min. At other places within the state the variation may be a few 
minutes more or less than this. 

The officers of the U. S. Coast Survey have published tables of the 
variation of the needle at various places in the United States from 
the earliest known records down to 1860. Those for New York and 
Philadelphia, which are the nearest to our location, are as follows : 



19 

\'iirifttinn in (loprro(»s and dcfimnls of (l(^rc«s. 



Ihito. 


N. York. 


IMiiln. 


I hill'. 


N. York. 


IMiihi. 


lf>«0 


s.s 




I7>^<l 


I.I 


•2.H 


lO'OO 


K.7 




17:m> 


1.-' 


11.2 


17(K) 


s.r> 


8.8 


I'^lM) 


1.2 


2.0 


1710 


R. 


8.4 


isin 


4.3 


1.0 


172<» 


7.0 


7.0 


is2r> 


4.7 




ITM 


7.0 


7.1 


1S.'W 


.'..ir, 


2.70 


17M» 


r..4 


0.3 


1S40 


.'i.7:i 


3.11 


17.')0 


•*..^ 


5.3 


la'io 


<',.37 


l.2.'> 


17<i(» 


- .> 


I.I 


1S(K) 


7.(11 


.-..19 


1770 


1.7 


.•I..", 









The vnriation has l>een to tlie West ever since tlio scttli'iuent of 
this country. It was (liiuinlsliinj;, however, at New Yi»rk until 
17!»'>, when it was I dej;. 1 niin., and at I'iiiladeliihia until lso.», 
when it was 1 dejj. '.» inin. Since those dates it hu.s been increiLsinir, 
tlie antuial eluin;,'e l)ein>j as fidlows : 

IX 10. ls.V». 1800. 

New York, :; 7' 3° !»' 3" H' 

IMiihuhi., 17' A" 3' o" 4' 

If these facts were generally understo<Kl it would seem an ea^y 
matter for surveyors to make such comparis<ins, and ro<'nrds as 
would accurately define the Ixiundarics of surveye<l laiuN. Hut 
another and probably fjreater difhculty arisi>s from meclianical 
defects in Surveyf)rs' Compasses. AYhile the same compas-i, if in 
good order, will in repej\te<l trials indicjite the same bearinjr within 
2 or 3 minutes, it is foun<l that different compasses will not jjive the 
same bearing even when new. A gentleman larjjely entrnfje<l in 
the manufacture aiid repair of surveyiufj in>^trument-, has at my 
requc:»t made some trials and sent me the results. From time new 
compasses of the best construction, he obtained the following : 

Ist trial. 2d trial. 

Xo. I, l.V S' l.-r 8' 

" 2, l.V 12' l.'r ir 

" 3, l.V l.i' 10' 10' 

liearinps taken with compasses that have been in use, differ still 
more wi<lely. It is not uncommon to find difTerenc(M of a d«^reo 
or more. In mariner's compass«s I am told that dilTercncf-^ of from 
an eighth to a quarter of a point (1 deg. 21 min.— 2 deg. \9 min.) 
are not unusual. 

For both the variation of the nee<lle and the mechanical tlefocts 
of the compass the "True Meridian" furnishes a proper correction. 

To render the law relating t<> the True Meridian cffi'ctual, sorao 



20. 

furtlier legislation is needed. It should be obligatory upon every 
Surveyor to ammally test the compass he uses upon the county "true 
meridian," and to record with the minutes of his survey, in the 
deed or other writing, dates of the survey and of the variation of 
his compass. As the County Clerk has charge of the posts and 
apparatus for the lines, with authority to have the variation deter- 
mined from time to time, it would be useful to have the same officer 
keep a register of the compasses tested, with their variations. 

From the number of persons, including instrument makers, sur- 
veyors, navigators, and land owners, whom I have conversed with 
upon this subject, I have received but one opinion and that was in 
favor of having the true meridian determined, and the use of it 
made obligatory. Respectfully, yours, 

Geo. H. Cook. 

New Brunswick, N. J., Feb. 8, 1804. 



The question selected for discussion, being in order, Mr. Bonham 
read an interesting and well digested paper, upon the subject of the 
variation of the needle, condensing the experience and observation 
of several scientific men, and practical surveyors, as v/ell as his own 
observations in the use of the compass. 

It has been found by actual observation, that the magnetic and 
the geogrtiphical meridian do not generally coincide ; the diff'erence 
between the directions of the two being called the variation of the 
compass. If this variation were a constant quanti'^y, it would be 
of no practical importance to the Surveyor. A line run by the com- 
pass at one time could be retraced on the same bearing at any other. 
The variation is, however, subject to continued changes, — some of 
them having a period of many years, perhaps several centuries, 
others being annual and diurnal, and some accidental or temporary. 
From the time of the earliest observations made in this country on 
the position of the magnetic needle till about the commencement of 
the present century, the north point was gradually moving to the 
east. Since then the direction of its motion has been reversed, and 
this motion constitutes what is called the secular change. I have 
examined various authors, both ancient and modern, who have 
written on the variation of the compass, and have not been able to 
discover or find when or at what time, any change ever took 
place, except the one spoken of before, about the beginning of the 
present century. Surveyors differ in their opinions about the time 
and year that this change took place. Some are of the opinion that 
it was in the year 1800. Others that it was in or about the year 1804, 
but my own opinion about the matter, is that it was about the year 
1796 ; and my reasons for thinking so, are because I have a Bitten- 



21 

h«)H<i' Compass, fthcy Ix-in;,' tin- kind ft»rin«'rly u-m-*! in my «li>.trJrt,) 
liuii I find tiiiit ill tr.ifin^ old lines, I hiivo to allow more Nariiition' 
for that date than any other; a rinMim-^tann« that I i-annol a4-<-ount 
for In any other way than by suppoxln}; tUat to Ik? the tliiv <»f the 
chanpre. In \x\'\ an article apiHiinKl in a Philadelphia pafK-r which 
reads thns: "At Philadelphia 1701," "variati«»n s' wv W . In \1'X\ ; 
" V .in' \V. ; in IT'.M, the ne<dle wits ol>««'rve«| to retMHie to the weHt ; 
" in l^Mj, •_•' \V. ; ill l^l.'l, T 1*7' W. and the w<*^>t variation wa** then 
" inrrea-injj." See Flint'M Surveyinir, ]>a},'e 1h;, Ae. 

"In IMI.",, \rr. Flint, the author bef«)n» refen**! to, eommeiitH>d 
" ohsi-rvinj; the variation of the njaj^netle ne<'«l|e at Ilehron, in 
" Coniurtieut, he eontimuHl his fjhservations to June \KV*, The 
• compass with the same lUfMlle, has In^en H't at the f«ame 
aiul to the sam" ol>j<'<"t ; durini; tliat period the north «'nd 
'' of IIk' nee<lle varied to the west l^l.*M'. The annnal motion of 
" the neeille, he says, has not Ikkmi uniformly >>teady. In sf>me 
•• years it was nH)re rapid than in others; and in one or two in- 
" stanc-es, for a periml of three or four years. None ex<n-pt the 
" diurnal motion could he discerned." 

Thes<« observations of Mr. l-*Iint accord wonderfnlly with my own. 
I have in my practice knf)wn some years that the variation ai>j>eare<I 
to be as much as .'» or (5 minutes for years, then at other times for 
some three or four years it has seemed to be stationary ; and in one 
or two instances that I now recollect, its motion has appearetl to bo 
retro^jnule. It has been foun<I by actual obscrvati(»n that there 
are di-turl)anc<'s of the map:netic needle, outsifle of its common 
variations, as for instance the Aurora IJorealis or Northern lJj»ht. 
The followinj? is acoi)y of a set of observations taken at riiiladelphia 
on Tuesilay evening, November 14th, 1n.'17, by William J. Younjf, 
Mathematical Instrum(>nt .Maker, with a 1 1 inch nee«lle, during nn 
active Aurora. 
II. M. 
(*. (K) The iH .'.llr standing, •"»' K. of North. 

G 15 " " -.Vt' K. of X. 

4.-, " 

7 m " " 

7 Vi " " 

Making a variation of 1 lo' in one hour's time, ttie nee<lle 
remaining untouche<l during the whole time of obs^-rvafion. It l«< 
also the opinion of some writers on thesubjet't, that liglilnlnir will, 
when near, alV»'<'t the position of the ne<'dleand change its dire<'tion, 
but I have never met with any thing of the kind in my pmcticc. 

In one instiince, now re:ollecte<l, I went out to survey » tract of 



IV w. 


, of 


N. 


!M' \V. 


«.f 


N. 


;^v \v. 


of 


N. 


wv w. 


of 


N. 



22 

woodland in the lower or south end of Salem county. I went to a 
certain black oak tree to begin the survey, and stuck down the staff 
and set the compass on it, and then let the needle down on the 
centre pin, and to my surprise I could do nothing with it, the 
needle vibrating to and fro, and up and down, but after a while it 
became quiet and settled down about 30° from its proper jDOsition, 
and remained for some two or three hours entirely unmanagable, 
SO that I could not take a single course with it. The morning v/as 
foggy and very still, until about 10 o'clock, the wind then sprang up 
from the N. W. and the weather cleared off and the sun shone. I 
then went back to the same tree and set the compass and went on 
round the survey, but the needle did not seem to be entirely free, 
until in the afternoon, and what was the real cause of this irregu- 
larity I have never been able to find out, I had been at the same 
point before, and have been since and found no such difficulty. The 
needle is also subject to a diurnal as well as an annual variation. 
The daily change of the variation amounts at some periods of the 
year to as much as 15 minutes, and is said to be greater in summer 
than in winter, but experimenters seem to be undecided as to which 
month it is greatest or least. Canton and Wargentin thought its 
maximum to be in the month of July, but according to Beaufoy's 
experiments it is greatest in June and August, and in this gentle- 
man's results we may place great dependence from his known accu- 
racy, as well as from the time he continued to observe this 
phenomena. I have known the diurnal variation to be r/ 10^ and 
15 minutes, and in some instances none could be discovered from 
morning till evening. 

It is customary in my district, in triicing old lines, to allow one 
degree for every 20 years, and at that rate for a longer or shorter 
time, but this allowance is frequently from one-quarter to half a 
degree out of the way, being some times too much and at others too 
small ; but that allowance seems at a mean rate to be as near the 
mark as can be ascertained at the present time. 

The variation of the needle has long been a subject of much per- 
plexity. Observations have been made upon it in abundance, and 
many facts have been ascertained, but they are not reducible to 
system. The polarity of the needle and its variations and irregu- 
larities, is a hidden mystery, which is never to be searched out by 
man. BELFORD M. BONHAM, 

Practical Surveyor, 
Cumberland County, 

August 9th, 1864. New Jersey. 

The subject was discussed among the members, and upon motion 
of William Haines, was continued to the next meeting. 



28 

On motion of Mr. nonhani, tlio pr«K-«H*«lintr< '>f <'n('l> nuv^tlnjj of 
the associivtion wrrc orik'rc«l to Im« pulilixlu-il in the n(\\>|ia|MTH of 
Ciicli coiuity in West Nt-w .Icrx-y. 

John ('i.i.\ii..n I , S4h-. 
Adjourned. 



.1 AM All Y :k1, iMVi. 

Tho society met, pursuant to adjournment. 

William Tarry, l--<i-. '" tlieeliair. 

Kzra Stokes Wiis apiiointed Sirretnry, i>ro tt-ni. 

The mimites of llie last mwtlnfr were read and a|i|irovo<I. 

Samuil P. Chew, of Camden County, James II. Trenchnrd, of 
Cund>orland County, Watson Xewlxtldand William H. J{. Thomas, 
of Hurlinjjton County, were okrteil members. 

The stiitement made by the Treitsurer was approval and onlcrc<I 
to be nied. 

Tlio dis<.us-ion of the variation of the magnetic ncoedle was 
resumed, and Watson Newbold, read an interc^stinR pajn'r ui>on 
that subject. 

"Kstablishing title to Ijjind," was the subject selected for di.scus- 
slon at the next meeting. 

James Lippincott, jjave notice that he would offer a resolution at 
the next annual mcetin{?, to change tho time of Iiolding the stated 
meetings. 

Ordered that the next stnte<l meeting be held on the 2d Tuesday 
of August next, at the West Jersey Hotel. 

Tlie officers elected for the ensuing year, were 

William I'arry, Tresident. 
(ieorge K. Morri-on, | 
.lacob L. U<»\v:md. Vice President.*". 

William K. lirad<lock. ) 

Clayton Lippincott, Trea-^urer. 

John Clement, Secretary. 



William Haines, ) standing Com. 

( laytoii Lippincott. j " 



Adjourned. 



AforsT Sth, wr.. 

The society met according to adjournment, tho rresident, 
William Parry, in the Chair. 

The minutes of the last mei^ting were read and approved. 

William >L Cawley, of Salem county, was elected a member Of 
the association. 

The Trcaourer'.s accounts were examined and approved. 



24 

A paper was submitted by Samuel P. Chew, upon "Establishing 
title to Land," which was read and ordered to be filed. 

Chew's Landing, August Sth, I860. 
To the Association of Practical Surveyors of West Neiv Jersey, — 
convened at JEnglisIi's Hotel, Camden. 

Gentlemen : — 

I regret my inability to meet with you to- 
day, as your deliberations will most probably be of an interesting 
character. At the last meeting an elderly gentleman, whose name I do 
not now recall, stated in some general terms to the Association, that 
he thought some Legislation requisite to establish title in actions of 
trespass on lands ; and the matter I think, was postponed to the 
present meeting. 

I had hoped to have been present at so important a discussion, to 
have heard the different views thereon in detail, but am forced to 
forego so intellectual a treat, having to meet and harrangue a legal 
tribunal in the defence of a friend to the same action. Consequently 
I must mingle in the dull and monotonous declamations of a couple 
of pettifoggers, whose legal vision, not ordinarily acute, will most 
likely be be-fogged by a dingy fee, instead of enjoying the sprightly 
and varied mental illuminations of a free and erudite periodical 
assemblage ; not however, I hope an extra legislative body, destined 
to out-rival the fjxmous "third house." But to be serious— as a ju- 
nior member of the Association, prudence would assign to me a 
commendable taciturnity, but a regard for the future status of the 
Association impels me to offer a suggestion. 

Common Law is a beautiful structure, and needs very little 
embelishment by legislative carvings and statutory mouldings. The 
adage that "burnt children dread fire" would be most ludicrously 
exemplified in the sufferers who should make for themselves case- 
mates of asbestos. And law as well as fire, has its inherencies which 
it would probably be advantageous to us to study. As an infant 
society, therefore, let us not draw hasty conclusions from rash j^rem- 
ises. There needs a digesting apparatus to prepare crude material. 
In a Logocracy some one must act in the capacity of a "Gizzard." 

I would therefore most respectfully suggest, the raising in our 
body, as soon as practicable. Standing Committees, according to 
Parliamentary custom. Until such consummation, let Special Com- 
mittees be appointed for special purposes. I would therefore offer 
the following (to be made to suit the case). 

Resolved, That be a Committee 

to inquire into the utility, want and expediency of any modifica- 



25 

tion, clinn^jt" or fiirtlu-r Legi.slntion in tin* Law, willi th<« view to 

nml wlwthor any such clian^r i»r othtT- 

wiso, ln' icMjulsito at this time, and if s<», \\ iiat -aiul that they rt*|H>rt 

the sain*' in writlnj^ to tho next stat(*<l nu(*tli);; of tills AsMMiation. 

r \~ii liasto and laicoiilfisin, and bilievc nu? th*- fri«'nd of tlu» 

.\ ■ . .' on. Truly, 

SAMLKI. r. ClIKW. 

To Hon. W. I'aiTV, and others. 

John flonirnt, n*a<l a p;»iKT upon tlu* variation of the n)a;;tu*tic 
ncotllo, whith was ordrrt'il to IwIIUkI. 

(iKXTI.KMKX OF TIIK S<KIKTY: — 

ThfTPis perhaps no business that Is so roniplc.v and surrmnidod 

■ 1 iny flinicultifsns that of pr.n'tical survt-yln;;. 'I'h<- jnstru- 

>h' uso of, tU'firtivc at hi'st, the i>;norani"«' or can-li-ii'-ss of 

other ."urveyors to ovcrconie, the indinVrenre of nf-jsistants to cou- 

("ivl with, the vjjjjuo and doubtful charafter of papers, niap.s and 

(I riptions— the prai-tieal su!V^*yor has the lea.st chance<ira reputa- 

'. mesty or eapaeity «)f any other per-sju employed in active 

:ifo. 

11 • -'.iiids the abusHl of all abusers. Is the p;\(!;-hnrs(' of other 
niii!'-.Mns,and in hisown jiractiee must answer ferall the >hort com- 
ings of chain bearer's local attraction, badly opene<l lines, and the 
thou«i\nd and one contin;,'iiit difViculties that hurround him in his 
callinj,'. 

No (jMc can apprc«'iat(> and understand these (rinN exccjtt such a» 
may have passed throu;,'li tlu* proliationary -lafe to this pro- 
fes.slon. To discuss a few of these dilllculti<s, and to .nu^gest their 
avoidance, is my obj(H't at this time, and if any on»' of the^e shall 
be removeil, my purpO)«e will be accomj»lished and I fully repaid. 

In the early history of our State, ami in the layhi^niut of the land, 
for lor.itiou and settlement, the mariner's conipa>^-, adjuste<i oji a 
stair, was the only instrument to be obtaiiie<l. In tbo^e days lln' 
instrument itself was l»ut rudely made, Iteinjj only «'Ut to points and 
these divided by tho hand varying no doubt ft degntor more when 
compannl with the nicely graduated in-^truments of the j»n's<'ntday. 
Without any means of level except by the ne<Mlle itsi'lf. Without 
eve. I the advantage? of a ball and socket, we cjui readily s<'e how in- 
acurately the tirst surveys were made in New .Iers<'y ; and under- 
stanil tl»e dilViculti«'-< thus handed down to us in the adj«jstnu-nt and 
settlement of boundary liius. CoupU^l with this is the un«-<Ttain 
length of the chain and IndifTorent nirrying, all of which adj|e«l to 
the mystery surrounding the early surveying of our State. 

The first in-truments nuide cspiH-ialiy for surveying lands. csirrio<l 
with thenj the sjime tlefects. The dial very ^mall and cons«><|uent 



26 

short needle, made heavy and badly pointed, perhaps not cutting 
the opposite points alike. The bed plate thin and easily bent, with 
the limbs insecurely fastened and often crooked, and with the sights 
large and roughly opened. The ball and socket had also radical 
defects which gave it an uncertain and troublesome motion. 

Just here I may be allowed to say a word as to the variation of 
the magnetic needle, a subject that has agitated the scientific world 
for many years, and which may never be satisfactorily answered. 
AVith this question we have only to do so far as it applies itself to 
the surveying of land. Enough may be seen that our purpose is to 
argue that much of the mystery of this question grows out of bad 
instruments and worse surveyors. 

No one will question the advantage of good instruments, carefully 
used and also of an equal care in measurement to secure any thing 
like a correct surve5\ 

To survey a level rectangular field has none of the trouble of undu- 
lating soil with rough and bushy bottom, steep hill sides and narrow 
valleys, or deep swamps and wide streams. Yet any practical sur- 
veyor knows the almost impossibility of preserving a straight line 
under such circumstances, and avoiding some doubt as to the true 
bearing between the two points. 

To this may be imputed one difficulty as to the variation of the 
needle. However correct the campass may be in itself, the use of 
the instrument for any length of time will.put it out of adjustment 
and render it unfit for use. The limbs most readily get out of place 
being more exposed to blows and strains. 

This inaccuracy is hard to detect and may lead to many (though 
slight) errors long before the cause would be discovered. The centre 
pin by constant use becomes dull and produces too much friction 
upon the needle, rendering its action doubtful ; or the pin may get 
bent from its position and throw the needle from the centre line 
across the compass. The bed plate may be bent without its being 
observed; any of which causes must make the work done of an 
uncertain character. To this may be imputed another difficulty as 
to the variation of the needle. Again, a surveyor may flatter him- 
self that he has overcome all these difficulties, by proper care of his 
compass, may find that his back sights are satisfactory, and his head- 
sights definite and certain, occasionally find old marked trees and 
other evidence of previous running — at last to discover that he is 
but a few links from the corner sought for. A few minutes are suffi- 
cient to make the necessary correction, and he turns back to 
mark up the line and settle the boundary between the owners. 
When alas ! on his return to the starting point, he finds he is a greater 
distance from the corner than the one he last left. Upon inquiry as to 
the cause he finds the chain bearers have missed an out, or lost a pin. 



and K'iv»' liiiii tliu \vrou;j tli-tain'«' \s Imtooii t<» Ita^' Jii-i nil»i«lali<>n.s. 
To tlii> iu:»y l)o iinputtil juiothiT tUniruIty a.s to tlu« viiriiilii»ii of tho 
lU!o<lU'; aiiitl tosucli trouMivsas tUcM' nmy he iii)|)iit<il the urirrrtainty 
of survryor-i ovi-r uttaiiiiii)^ to l>o fhrlstiaiis aiul for;jiv«'iK'-is for their 
luauifoUl sins in tliu lk>sli. 

Thut tlu-ru is an annual and diurnal variation to tlu> ina^notic 
netillu lIuTf am Im- no douI»t. This varies in ditrirent parts «)f tho 
country, and is f^overneil hy caus^-s l»oy«ind our kn<»\v!ed;;(' and con- 
trol. Tlial lij^htand heat have niueh to ilo w ith thetliurnal variation 
of the neciUe is eertain ; but to what extent and for what lenf^th of 
tiuio lias not as yet In^en aseertained. This suljeet has not perhaps 
been more ubly dicussotl, or observations nmde njorcoonelusive than 
by Mr. iJurt, of Detroit, Miehi^ran, in I'vJl*. After a long scries of 
obsiTvations he arrives at a few eertainties which he has roi'ordefl. 
Ilos^iys, "the north end of the nei-tUe will arrive at it-* nior-t oa'-t- 
*' eriy declination i)etwecn oneand two hours afti-rsun-ri-ie. It will 
" then ijradualiy move wi'sterly until one or two o'chnk P. M. 
" Soon after which it will jjnulually decline ciustcrly, and will return 
" half-way back at sunset ; and arrive at its most easterly divlination 
" at^iiii the next morninj^, between one and two hours after sun- 
" risi'." The theory of this would sei'Ui to l)e that the sun in i»as>- 
in^ over tiie south i-nil of the needle exercises a positive ehvtrir 
intluence upon it, drawing it away from its true position until tho 
meridian, then gradually loosing that power as it declines, and the 
nectlle arrives at its true position by the next morning, in time to 
commence the same routine of travel ; varied only by the i)Ower of 
the sun or perchance the condition of the atmo-phere. The olner- 
vationsof Mr. lUirt were made in .luly, during hot weather and long 
days. The greatest variation attained was 1' .'Jn', and the least r 1')', 
covering a time of .{o days. Thus showing that the magnetic neetlle 
was not to l>e relieil on under such circumstances. 

My own obs^-rvations of diurnal variations were made by adjust- 
ing the instrument toagivtn point, and leaving it exiK)se<l tothe light 
and lu-at of the sun for several hours, Hy this I <liscovere«l that the 
nei'<lle varied from in' i:.' to tluM-ast, on very hot dear days. During 
the fall and wint«T months this change is not so noticeable as in the 
spring and sunnner months. This trouble may be d<'twted in run- 
ning a long line that will ix-cupy the whole day, in which tho noo- 
dle parses through the changes of heat ami light, and is afTeoto<l 
accordingly. No remedy can be adopttnl for this owing to the 
uncertainty of tach daily change. The Ix'st perhaps in practice is 
the use of back sights, which with care, may approximate t<» a pro- 
per allowance in running lines under these dltllcultit^. 

In regard to annual variation there exists a groat variety of 
opinions. It is unnecessary to enumemte the various obscrvatioiw 



28 

and conclusions of different persons in this regard, luiving already 
taxed your patience beyond propriety. The most universal theory, 
and most adopted in practice, is the allowance of 3 minutes to the year 
to and from A. D. 1800. Some use SI minutes to the year, and others 
calculate from 1805. Others calculate each year separately, making a 
difference in the variation of the several years and summing the 
whole to arrive at the true variation. My own observations are had 
from a compass in use some 40 years since, and when now carefully 
applied, I find that 3 minutes to the year is about the correct allow- 
ance. I am of the opinion however, that much of the trouble of 
this subject grows out of the use of br.d instrumeuts; and the 
liability to error in traversing and correcting lines. 

August, 1865. 

The following Preamble and Resolutions were adopted : 

Whearas, It is desirable that the history of the early settlement 
of our State, should be collected, arranged and preserved ; and as 
practical surveyors, by their examination of titles and maps, have 
the best opportunity of discovering such matter; therefore; 

Resolved, That each member be requested to secure as much of the 
early history of his neighborhood as possible: the names of the 
first settlers, their families, their nativity, the date of their first 
settlement, and where they located their lands, as well as any other 
thing of antiquarian interest, and from time to time, read the same 
before the society at their several meetings." 

On motion of Emmor Roberts, it was ordered that the next ques- 
tion for discussion be "the proper manner to adjust an instrument 
to detect the true meridian." 
Adjourned. 



January 2d, 1866. 

Tlie annual meeting of the society occured this day, and in the 
absence of the President, William Haines was appointed chairman. 

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. 

The Treasurer's accounts were read and approved. 

Samuel H. Chambers of Burlington County, was elected a 
member. 

The time of holding the regular stated meetings, persuant to 
notice given January 3d, 1805, was by order of the association, 
changed to the second Tuesday of August, in each year. 

James Lippincott, read a copy of a law of the state of Delaware, 
relating to the settlement of disputed boundary lines by arbitration, 
and upon discussion, the President was directed to appoint a com- 
mittee of three members to act in conjunction with the President 
and Secretary, to preparealawof likeimport, and report the same to 
a special meeting of the association to be called by said committee. 



29 

Tlif rrr-^ith'nt ii|)|K)intc<l .Iiiiin-> Uppiiictitt, Stiiiidi'l 1*. (.'hf»w and 
I It'll ry J. Irk'k, as Mui-li fommittr*-. 

.loliit CUMiiciit read ii |ni|)('r upon the cDiiiiititiitinii of time, atul 
till! rliaiij;«'-i of the nik'McliT, which was ortlrrrd t.. I. • i.l.-.l 

Mi\ J'l'fjiUlfnt and (irulfemen of the Aimoriiidon . 
TUv titif to tho hiiuls in the Stuto of Now .Jersey, is dfriveil from 
th<' (tcucral Proprietors ami in the inannrr |Ki-uliar to th»' system 
adoptfil l>y tiu'Uisolvfs in thi- bc^innin}^, and an lln- priority of date 
in tlie orij^inal locations or surveys be-joini'M a niuteriid element In 
the perfection and ci-rtainty of that title, the manner of i*omputln}; 
time from the prunt of the 1 Kike of York, to near the close of the 
elghtivnth century, is the (piotion now proposed to l>e discusx-d. 

This not unfretpimtly involved the actual title to land wlu-n the 
survey uiuler which it is held is found to interfere witli other and 
mljoininjj surveys. The variation of th(> n>aj;netic ni'cdle nuist ho 
baiictl upon this fact : the ape of marks found upon corner an<l line 
tret's accountetl for wflh more certainty, and all other evidence that 
the lapse of time may mistify, arrived at with more certainty when 
we understand more clearly the manner in which those who have 
gone before us computed time and ilated all le;;al writs ami papen?. 
One or all of tlu'sc troubli's, every practical surveyor has encoun- 
tered, and upon occasions when they seemeil beyond .-olution. 

For several centuries the computation of time and proper adjust- 
ment of the calender, was a mooted ((uestion aiiujiig aslronomers 
find scientific men. 

Before the commencement of the Christian era, it was di.s<overcd 
that the soldr year was some (en days lonjjer than the funfir year, 
which dillerence led to constant trouble in the measurement of time 
and the uniform division of the calender, and which in about thirty- 
four years chanj^cil the nami^ of the months designe<l to represent 
the particular seasons of that part of the year whi !i was their 
antipodes. 

The first attempt to overcome this difiiculty w;is m,. le by .Julius 
Ca'sar, as I'mperor of Rome, about forty-live y»'ar-' l»e! >ro the birth 
of Christ. 

This was called the •' .Julian stylo" and prevaile«' -mong Chris- 
tian nations, until about the year \'iX2, during? which period tho 
little di-crepency of eleven minutes in wich year had amountetl to 
some ten days, and had s<^ disarranj^ed tlu; tinu's of the feasts 
peculiar to the Roman Catholic Church, that somejiew arrangc- 
iiient bci-ame ntvessary. 

I'nder the authority of Poi>c Ci regory, XIII, ton days wore dcduct- 
(d from the year l'>s2, and the system of leap year intnxluccd, 
which reifulation was adopted at once in all Catholic countries. 



30 

The Protestant communities however refused to accept this plan, 
until the year 1700, and it was not until 1752 that an act was passed 
by the Parliament of Great Britain, requiring all legal writs to 
conform to the style as laid down and adopted by the Pope nearly 
two centuries before. 

It can be well understood how much confusion and uncertainty 
would exist during this period, touching the dates of all legal 
papers in England, and how the same uncertainty would attach to 
the dates of legal papers in the Colonies, and especially in New 
Jersey, where the English calender was the only one in use among 
the first settlers. 

The practical effect of this change, was to take the beginning of 
the year from the 25th day of March to the 1st day of January, 
which made January, February and March, the three first months 
in the year, instead of the three last- 

This may be detected by observing in the elates of ancient papers 
and records, the.flgures 1758-9, &c., which only adds to the obscurity 
of the actual date, instead of showing whether the old or new style 
was intended. 

We also find occasionally the date of an old deed to run thus, 
" the first month called March 1749-50, &c.*' 

This shows the old style was used and made March the first 
month. 

The actual occurrence of well known historical events, are often 
obscured by the vague and uncertain manner of the record, growing 
out of the diff'erence in adjusting the calender or computing time. 

The im]Dortance of a correct knowledge of these facts is therefore 
self-evident to every practical surveyor, and may be studied and 
discussed with much profit by all classes of citizens. 

Let us now look at this question practically, so far as it applies 
itself to the titles of lands of our State. 

Suppose a survey to have been made of a tract of land, the 
return of which bears date February 10th, 1748, and having been 
passed by the Council of Proprietors is duly recorded, and by this 
carries with it the title of the Proprietors to the soil within its 
boundaries. 

Another survey is made which bears date May 13th, 1748, passed 
by the Council and recorded which also carries with it the title of 
the Proprietors to the soil within its boundaries. 

These two surveys upon being laid upon the ground, are found to 
interfere with each other, and the question at once arises as to the 
priority of location. 

Under the old style, the survey made in May w^ould take priority 
of date. But under the new style, the survey made in February 
would have the preference. 



31 

This imjuiry ofloM arl-Ms ntui sonictirnis tnuls to imich dinVulty 
atui troul)lr, involving; as it (loo*», tlju tillt* of much valtial)l<> f-tati-. 

Althoujfli thi> nunisure of timo covctchI hy tliis «llfTen'nc"<' of poin- 
l»utation is l)ut about thn-i* motJths, yet in the cstirnatc to Ik- nmdo 
in th(( variation of tlic niaj,'ru'tic in'<'<Ilc, it may ho about nlru» 
montlis, and .sutlUit-nt to lnul a surveyor away from the trin* point 
in rnimin^ a lonj; lirn*, or in the scttii-mcnt of M'vcral houndariofl 
of tlio sami> survey. 

As per example it be<'om(s niN-e.^sary to calculate tiie variation of 
u survey, «lat^'«l January loth, 17l«, to January loth, Ihoo^ tho 
calculation would he made for 17 ymrs and .'Imontlj, iii-tmd of IK 
years, for the reason that th(» January of 11 \^ was tlie ninth month, 
and the January of l-^fKi the lip-t month of tho year, making the 
nu'asure of timi,' to so differ accordingly. 

Thermo tljought-s are condensed, and hints thn)wn out more for the 
purpose" of instituting inquiry upon this suhjcn-t, than to ostal)li.sh 
any facts, and if tho attention of practical men is drawn to it with 
the final settlement of the question, and the development of the 
truth as it now lies covered with the rubhish of time, the purpose 
of the author will be accomplished and hi.s present effort fully repaid. 

January :.', \stt(\. 

The society ordered the proceedings of the meeting tol>epiibli-lied. 
The ofticers clecte<l for the ensuing year, were : 
William Tarry, Provident. .Tacob L. Rowand, (;e«)rge It. M<»rri- 
son, William Haines, Vice I'ri'sidents, Clayton TJppincott, Tre:\.s. 
urer. John Clement, Secretary. WiIIi;\m M. Cawley, Helfiml M. 
Bonham, StandiiiL,' Committee. 
Adjourned. 



rr.iiiu Aitv IJth. ]->>>. 

Persuant to a call nuule by the special committee appointed at 
the annual meeting, the association met this day. 

The President, William Parry, in the chair. 

Tho minutes of the last nutting were read and approveil. 

John F. Ilodine, of Camden County, was rhvted a member. 

The special committee reported the dnift of a law, for the puri)O»0 
of settling disputetl lines and bouuflaries, by abitration, which^v^'iLS 
read by sections and approval. 

John V. llodine, Henry J. Irick and John Clement, were 
api)ointed a committee to procure the i»assage of siid I:iu- by the 
Legislature of New Jersey, at the present sitting. 
Adjournetl- 



32 



August 14th, 18G6. 

The Society met this clay iu stated meeting", the President, 
William Parry in the chair. 

The minutes of the two last meetings were read and approved. 

Alfred Howe, of Gloucester County, was elected a member. 

Naaman Haines of Gloucester County, was elected a member. 

Henry J. Irick of the committee, appointed Febuary 12th, 1866, 
reported that the draft of a law, adopted by the association at said 
meeting, was not passed by the Legislature then sitting. 

Which report was recieved, and the committe continued. 

John Clement was appointed to prepare and read a paper before 
the association at its next meeting, upon the early settlements of 
West New Jersey. 
Adjourned. 



September 1st, 1866. 

Persuant to appointment, a number of the members of the associ- 
ation met at Mount Holly, Burlington County N. J., for the purpose 
of testing and comparing their compasses, pursuant to the law, now 
in force. 

Amos Gibbs, Esq., Clerk of the County, attended the several 
gentlemen so assembled and arranged, the "Points" as fixed by 
Professor Cook, to show the true North. 

The experiments proved as follows : Being made about 12 o'clock 
M : The Thremometer, ranging near 90, cloudy with some mist. 



Franklin W. Earl, 
James Lippincott, 
Henry J. Irick, 
John Clement, 

Franklin W- Earl, 
James Lippincott, 
Henry J. Irick, 
John Clement, 
William Parry, 
Charles Parry, 



FIRST TRIAL. 




Needle bore 


5 40 


West of North. 


Needle bore 


5 35 


West of North 


Needle bore 


5 30 


West of North 


Needle bore 


5 40 


West of North 


SECOND TRIAL, 


1, o'clock, P. M 


Needle bore 


5 30 


West of North 


Needle bore 


5 35 


West of North 


Needle bore 


5 35 


West of North 


Needle bore 


5 35 


West of North 


Needle bore 


5 35 


West of North 


Needle bore 


• 5 45 


West of North 



Januaby 1st, 1867. 
The annual meeting of the association accured this day, 
The President, the Hon. William Parry in the chair. 



:^3 

Tlic qiiotiori of prt's-ln;; llic jnHsfl;;^ of llu* l:i\v to wttio Inixl 
ili.xputt's l)y abitration, was disfusHcd ami it was, 

lititofrrtl. That tin- ass<K'iatJon iucM«t at Tn-ntoii, during; thcsittint; 
of the l/<»j^islatun', at the call of tlu* rrosident, to aix'otnplisli tliis 
purpoM*. 

The Pn>si(lciit and Inuikliu W. Karl, I>(|., wcru ad<Ic<l to tin- 
comiuittt'c already api>()iiili'd. 

Josliua luirl, 1>.|., of IVnilnrtoii, Uurliiij^ton ( mmty, wiw t'l«H"te<l 
a nu'iuIxT of the as.so«'i;iti(iii. :iiiil rciMutcd (Ik- "murk" (o 1»<> ii-.cd 
by liitn as a suvcyor. 

John CleiiU'iit, r<'a«l a papir upon the larlry .scllk'nuuti of West 
New Jersey, whiili was ordereil to he llleil. 

Oextlkmkn of TIIK Skmkty:— 

The perHrutJon of the Kelii;ious Society of Fri«'iids <luriii;; tlio 
reij^n of Charles Sw'otui, of Kiijjlaiid, may be said to have been tho 
moving; cause of the settlement of New Jersey. 

The refuNil of tins reli;^ious scx-t to take tho oath of alletjianco 
n'<piired of them, pass^'d i)y the I'arliaiiu'iit to e(re<'tually cru>ih out 
(he insurrection of the " I'ifth Monarchy Men" or " Millenarian«," 
threw around them a shade of suspicion, which desiifiiing men took 
advantage of, and placed them its professing Christians in a false 
position before their Sovereign. 

This condition of things so ri'mained until some of tho most 
i'minent of their persuasion obtaine<l an intervir'W with tho King, 
and through the explanations of I'ox, I'enn, Itarday and others, 
their royal masters bocjime s;itisllcd that the profi^sion of non- 
resistance and passive obedienoe pervaded their whole system, and 
that the oath to which they objecte<l was not an exception in their 
cree<l. 

Tho rigor of tho act however, was not abate<l by tho I'arliamont, 
and as a consofpience they sutfere<l nuich portHvuticMi at tho hands 
of those in authority. 

As law-abiding citizens, no remedy was ap|»ar«iit for thcM' ontn»- 
ges, and they turnwl their attention to America, as l»oing a land 
w here religious toleration could bo enjoyed ; provide*! enough 
territory could l)e obtainc^l in whieh their religious tenets might 
have a controling intluenco. 

(leorge l-'ox who traveh^l through the wilderness of New Jersey 
in HiTl. in g(jing from Maryland to New Kngland, in addition to 
his religious <luties, no doubt examine*! tho soil and situation in 
view of a future settlement for this then i)orsecut<*<l people of which 
he was the foiujder. 

His travels in West New Jersey extendivl from near IV-nn-^grovc 
in Salem County. !<• Trenton, in >rer<-er County, which gave him 



34 

an opportunity to know something of the country, and its advanta- 
ges, his representation would therefore weigh much in the selection 
of a part of the country where these strangers would settle. And 
perhaps upon his return home our little State was pointed out by 
him as a proper place to be selected for such a purpose. This grant 
of the Duke of York to Carteret and Berkley, of so much of his 
territory as lay in what was tlien called "Virginia,'' seemed to meet 
their views as a place of refuge, and the charter of their grant cov- 
ering as it did the right of government made it doubly attractive to 
"Friends in London." 

In 167o, .Tolin Fenwick and Edward Billings, (two English 
Quakers,) purchased the undivided half of New Jersey, of Lord 
Berkley, the first in Trust for the latter ; this was done to guard 
Billing's estate from his creditors. 

A difficulty arose as to the estate they each held under the title, 
but was adjusted by William Penn as arbitrator, to the satisfaction 
of both parties. 

The creditors of Billings were unfortunate, and William Penn 
together with Gawen Lawrieand Nicholas Lucas, accepted a further 
trust of his estate in New Jersey, to their benefit. 

A division of the State into East and West Jersey, between Sir 
George Carteret and the Trustees of Billings, was had by a deed, 
dated July 1st, 1076. 

The Julian title was extinguished by three separate deeds, dated 
September 10th and 27th, and October 10th, 1677. 

Thomas Hutchinson, Thomas Pearson, Joseph Helmsley, George 
Hutchison and Robert Stacy, all " Friends" and of the County of 
York, England, were the principal creditors of Billings, and to 
whom all the other creditors assigned their claims. 

The trustees before named by deed dated 3Iarch 1st, 1676, con- 
veyed to these creditors seven equal undivided nineteenths parts of 
ninty equal undivided hundredths parts of West New Jersey, and 
also on the same day three other equal undivided parts as aforesaid. 
All the grantees to these titles were "Friends," and as Robert 
Barclay with other "Friends" became the owners of East Jersey, 
it may be said that our State was literally a quaker settlement, 
except so far as the Swedes and Dutch had previously obtained a 
foothold under the protection of their respective governments. 

The first attempt at settlement under the new order of things was 
made by John Fenwick, at Salem, in 1675. But few persons came 
with him, among whom were Samuel Nicholson, Robert Zane, 
John Matlack, Robert Wade and others. 

Immediately upon their arrival they established a meeting for 
religious woi'ship according- to their jjeculiar views, and which the 
first religious assemblage wltliin the bounds of West New Jersey. 



Tlie little foloiiy K<M)n btniino tlio nonclus fruni whicli mnny othor 
like s4*ttI*'iiH>nts railiuttil, mid rciidrml imicli tis.HiHtatuv to now 
coriHTS wlu> fn'«[U»iitiy arrivnl in (ii>trrss. 

I'iio lU'Xt M'ttioiiunt wjts Bt Hurlinjjtou in H;77, which Hoon 
assununl tlic prnportions of a town, and ItJ^iitnc tlu' H<'rtt ftf (iovern- 
inent for tlir wliolc rolony. 

In Kl'^l, a fi;w piTsons mI out from DuMin, Inland, for Now 
Jerwy, and aftor a short voyn^'o landed at Salcni. 'I'liolr pinco of 
dostination was liowovor within the hounds of th.o "Third" <»r 
Irish tenth, which cxtondi'd alon;; the Delaware Kiver from Old- 
man's CnN'k to I'onnsuukin Crook. 

This llttio company consisted of William Hates, Thomas Tlmcknm, 
Mark Niwlin, < Jeor^ro (Joldsmith and Thomas Sharp. The thre<' 
first named of tlu*se had famili« s, the two last hein^r sinjjle men. 

They arrived at Salem, in Novendxr, and throu^'h the winter 
followinj;, n)ado mu«h search for a suitable place for a iwrmanont 
settlement. A spot was at last selected upon a stream they cidUtl 
Newton Creek, within the hounds of lladdon Township, near the 
ohl Newton (ira\i •^"a^d, and aliout three mile>i from the City (»f 
( 'amden. 

In the sprim,' foilowin;,'', they were joined by Kul'ort Zane, who 
hatl |)reviously come to Salem with his fanuly. when thoy all 
romove<l to the place selected which thoy called "Newton." 

They had, durin;; the winter, l(Kated sixtit-n hundred acns of 
land between the north and middl(> branches of said Cre<'k,and also 
one hundred acres of meadow at the month of the creek frontinp 
on the river. 

This little villat^e consisted (»f a few rude huts or cjibins built on 
the north bank of the middle branch below where the old Kravo 
yard stands, oidy intended as temporary residences "for fear of the 
Indians," and until land could bo |)roparod for agricultural puri>oses. 

Without any material for bnildinK or moans to jinxure such, 
these dwellin;:s must have been primitive ind»'<'d. It wsi'* soon 
found that th«y had no cause of fear from the Indians. Who, 
sava;;e though they wore, could appreciate and reci|)nMi\te the many 
act.i of kindness extended to them by those new comers. 

In the next year each person had wloi'te*! a part of this ori(<:inal 
tract and a place for his dwelling, which subdivision was carrie<l (Hit 
by d(>e<l to each, ami the locality then ofapixars on a map maile by 
Thomas Sharp in 17<m». 

It is a nndter of interesting: in<|uiry to know whore this little 
village st«MMl, but not a vestij^eof it remaines, and not a tra<lition is 
left to tell whore the town f)f "Nt'wton" was built "for fnir f»f the 
Indians." 

To the antiquarian or to the de<-ondcnts of th<He who re^id(>l in 



36 

those humble dwellings, this spot if certainly known, would at 
this day have a peculiar interest, and be worthy of a prilgriraage 
to see where landed those who brought with tliera the true elements 
of a free government, and left those elements to be enlarged and 
enjoyed by such as came after and were capable of handing them 
down unimpaired to posterity. 

These "Friends," isolated as they were, did not forget the obser- 
vance of religious worship, for "a meeting was kept at Mark 
Newbies' house, where AVilliam Cooper resorted from the point." 

A meeting house was built in 1684, which stood near the old 
grave yard. The first Trustees were Benjamin Thackara, William 
Cooper and William Albertson, who continued tlie trust to Thomas 
Sharp, John Kaighn, Joseph Cooper and John Kay, in 1708. 

A similar settlement was made at the mouth of Woodbury 
Creek, in 1G82, by several brothers by the name of "Wood," who 
came from "Bury," in Lancashire, England. 

They were soon joined by Thomas Gardiner, Thomas Mathews, 
John Test, William Ware and others. 

They were all "Friends," and established a religious meeting 
which they called "The Shelter." In 16D6, the Trustees of the 
meeting, were Thomas Gardiner, W^illiam Warner and Joshua 
Lord. 

In the same year, (1682) John Eoberts, W^illiam Matlock, Timothy 
Hancock, and others, settled at an Indian Town called ' ' Pennsau- 
kin," on the south branch of the creek that now bears that name in 
Burlington County. 

Many other families soon followed, and a meeting was also estab- 
lished, called "Adams" Meeting, since called "Chester" Meeting, 
now Moorestown. In the year 1700 Thomas Story, a public Friend, 
says, he traveled by water from Philadelphia, to visit "Adams" 
Meeting, and upon his return stayed at the house of Esther Spicer, 
the widow of Samuel, who then lived on the north side of Cooper 
Creek, near its mouth. 

In 1681, William Cooper located 300 acres of land bounded by the 
creek that now bears his name, and fronting on the Delaware River, 
He came to Burlington in 1678, where he purchased 80 acres of land 
and erected a dwelling which he afterwards gave to his daughter 
Hannah, wife of John Woolstan. 

In 1683 he settled at "Pyne Point," at tlio mouth of Cooper's 
Creek, in the midst of an Indian town. 

The title of the aborigines to the soil within the bounds of his 
survey, he extinguished by a valuable consideration which was 
alike honorable to him as satisfactory to themselves, and which 
secured the good opinion of these children of the forest toward the 
family ever after. 



87 

At tlio tiino of his dojitli In iTM.ho luul but llirw children livintr, 
Joseph, Daniel ami Hannah. Ili.s son and ^niiulson ImuIi niurrUil, 
William tU'<t'a.sc<l in K'.ttl, tht* bon leavin;; i-sin-, tin- (^ranil-Mtn not. 

Fran(ii(()Ilin«i caiiii* to Hnrllnjjton in the siiuf ship with William 
Cooper, and many <)lher<, who settled aitout that town. 

Ill ItVsi.* Ji(' l(K-ated .'mhi aeris in the easterly part of Newton 
Township, and on the south side of the south hraiuh of ('«Mi|)er'H 
Creek. Ili.s house 8t(KKl on the hill south of lladilonlleld, now 
frenenilly known as the "dill Karm." He (-alK-d hi" new phue 
"Mountwi'll." 

llis wife deei-aMHl soon after hisseltleiiieiit here, leaving him with 
one son and six dauj^hters. 

This was remote from Newton, and pre<-e<lc'd any other in that 
part of the Township by several years. There are many nnixtns 
for thinking the Indians had a town thereabouts, and that I'nineis 
Collins found a few aeres free of timber whereon he (mjuUI rais*- his 
erops without the labor of eU'jiriiij: the j,'round. 

I'lTehance his tlwelliii^ was a wij^'wam he had pureluu-iHl (tf one 
of the natives, and in w Iiicli he resideil during his stay here, w hieh 
was but short. 

In KW; Frnneis Collins married Mary (Joslin, widow of John, 
and danjjhter of Thomas Ikidd, and removed to lUirlintrton. He 
was abric-klayer, and in b;!tn, erected the Court Houx' in Hurlin^'ton, 
for wliieli lie reeeive<l fliMi. There was no person amoiiu' theejirly 
iK?ttlers of West New Jersey, the collateral branchea of whose family 
are so extensive as those of Franeis ( ■ollins. 

The settlement made by John Fenwiek has j^rown into one of 
the most llourishin;; towns in West Jern-y, and the names of the 
adventurers who eame with him maybe found in every eommunity 
throujjhont the State. 

The villaj^'e of Newton never assumed the jtroportions of a town, 
and several generations have passe<l away siiu'e the last vestige of 
its place was known. 

Its founders are remembered however in many families among 
us, yet no part <»f the soil as originally held by tluiii remain- in 
the name of any de-cendant. 

A large part of William Cooper's threi' hundred aeres, Is now 
eovereil by the thriving City of Camden ; and not a few years will 
elapse In'fore the whole will be oci^upicd by pernnment improve- 
ments in keeping with the spirit of the age and the ilemnnds of the 
public. 

What William Fenn found the Indian town of Shaekomaxin in 
ir.sl, and which has now grown into the City of Fhihulelphia ; 
William Cooper also found the next year at "Fyne Point" and 
which has now became the business trntrc of We^t New Jersey. 



38 

The beautiful town of Woodbury, traces back its genealogy to the 
little colony that settled at the moutli of the stream which passed 
that town ; and with commendable tenacity retains the name given 
by its founders. 

The Indian Town of "Pennsaukin" has long since lost its identity, 
and now the ploughshare of the husbandman breaks up the soil 
where once this village stood. 

The lineal descendants of the First English settlers still hold the 
titles to the land, and although much has passed out of the name, 
yet not out of the blood. 

A part of the survey of five hundred acres as made by Francis 
Collins, is now included in the Village of Haddonfield, none of the 
estate having been in the name for the last century. 

The first ferry across the River Delaware, was estsblished by 
William Roydon, in 1687, under a license granted by the " General 
Court," sitting at Gloucester, and to be fixed at any j^oint between 
Newton and Cooper's Creek. The extent of this licence would 
prove that no other ferry existed previous to this grant. Although 
some sort of intercourse was kept up by the Indians between 
Shackomaxin and "Pyne Point,'' previous to this time to accom- 
modate the few that wanted to cross the river at that place. 

William Roydon was allowed to charge sixpence for every person 
he set over the river, and twelve pence for every man and horse, 
and in like proportion for more bulky or weighty articles. 

His house stood near the foot of Cooper street, Camden, and 
which he was also licences to keep as a tavern. 

In 1G89 Roydon sold his ferry and all his land and improvements 
to William Cooper, whose son Daniel removed there and kept the 
ferry until his death. 

This ferry like all its surroundings, was of the most primitive 
kind, and gave neither convenience or comfort to those who were 
forced to use it. One hundred and eighty years has wrought many 
desirable changes in this regard, and what our ancesters were satis- 
fied with has no existence at this time. 

The "Corn Mill" built by Thomas Kendall, in 1G97, near Haddon- 
field, and on the site of the present mill of Josiah B. Evans, Esq., 
was "an institution" in its day and generation. It was the first 
built in Gloucester County. 

Nothing would perhaps be more curious, or attract the attention 
of mechanical and practical men oftener than this old corn mill, if 
it stood now as in the days of its usefulness. 

In 1693, Mordicai Howell erected a saw mill on a small branch of 
Cooper's Creek, near the residence of Richard Shivers, Esq., in 
Delaware Township. Other like mills were built about this time, 
but this was among the first,- 



31> 

Amon^' thanc' who cnmo tirst to Hottlc within tlio iimitiior Wc»»t 
Now J«rst>y, there was no morciuti-n'^tiii;,' cimrnctortlum KllziilM'th 
lliuldoii. Tiio (iau>;htrr of Joliii liatltlun.u "I'rlcnU*' wh«» livctl 
in the I'arish of St. (iror^'O, in tin* lloroij;;h of Soutiiwarlc ami 
(oimty of Surry, I ji;;hin(l, at tluit day a suhiirl) of I/otuion, on tlio 
soiitli si(ie of tlie itlv«>r Tliamw, lonj? hinoo wwallowtfl up in tho 
riilar^,'e<l honler.s of tliat ^Tcat river. 

John liaddon lui<i two (iau;;liters, Ids only ciiihlreti, Sjiraii wlio 
njarrie<i IJcnjaiuin Hopkins, aiui Mli/alK-th thr suhj<rt of this 
Hlccti-h. 

At tiie ajje of nineteen slio ieft tlie lionie of lier parents to look 
after her father's interest in Aineriea, aeeoinpaide<l jwrhaps l»y a 
few friends, hut by none of lier immediate family. Slu^ urrive<l in 
Philadelphia in ITiM, and proecfded at onee to ere<-t a houst» for 
hersrlf on her fath«'r'< land, lyin",' on the south side of Cooper's 
Creek, within the hounds of Newton Township. 

This huildin;,' .stoo{i on the hill beside tlu' ~tic :irii, and n<:ir tlic 
present residence of Jacob S. Coles, Ksq. 

In the same year she married John Kst:iiii:M. ;i young: •inm who 
had preceded her to Ann'rica upon a relij,'ious vi^it, he iM'injr u 
pr«'acher. They were married at her residenet- and not at tlie 
public meetinj^') as was freipiently the case in the j-arly settlement 
of the country. 

In 171:5 a new hou>e was erected on another tract, purchased by 
her father on the site of the residence of Isaac II. Wood, Ks«|., near 
to Iladdonfield, which villajje took its name fr<jm the ori;j^inaI 
of the soil. 

In 17i!l she went to l",n;,dand and pro( ureil fmrn her father a dee<I 
for one acre of land, whereon to erect a meetin^j house, an<l when? 
originatoti tho Friends' Meetinj; at Iladdontield, which from that 
date imtil the year ixis, Avas tho only place of public reli;,Mous 
worship in the villafce. 

liavinj; no children of her own. .-he adoptinl KlH-ne/.er Hopkins, 
a son of her sister, who came to New .Ier>ey an<i reside«l with his 
aunt. He njarried Sarah Lord, a daujjhter of Joshua I/ord, of 
\Voo<lbury Creek, and died in 17"i7, leaving; luT his witlow with 
several children. Thus orij::inate<l the "Hopkins" family in West 
New Jersey, 

John Estaujrh dietl in the Island «>f 'I'ortula, in 1711.', while on a 
ri'lif^ious visit there. 

Kli/.abeth r-stau;,'h died in 17';:.', full of years, and lonvinjj l>ehind 
her a character to beadmire<l and worthy of emidation. Her life 
had beini more varie<l than jjonendly falls to the lot of a female, 
but no word of censure or reproach remains ui»on her name. Tho 
days of her youth were lllletl with romance and surrounded by 



40 

temptation ; yet she was to the end of her life the same conscien- 
tious, disbreet and consistent woman. 

She was cotemporary witli William Penn, llobert Barclay and 
those others who originated the Colony, whose moral courage 
prompted by a religious duty overcame obstacles not often encount- 
ered ; whose life was as examplary as it was useful, and whose 
name will always be remembered with reverance and respect. 

January 1st, 1867. 

It was llesolved, That the next stated meeting of the association 
be held at Willis' Hotel, in Woodbury, Gloucester County, and that 
each surveyor then and there have the Instruments he uses in 
surveying land, to be compared and tested upon the "Points," 
lately established at that place, according to law. 

Ordered that the Secratary have the proceedings of, and the 
several papers read before the association, published by the press of 
West New Jersey, and also to have two hundred, (200) copies of 
the same, printed in pamphlet lorm for distribution among the 
members at the next meeting of the society. 

The officers elected for the ensueing year, were as follows : 

William Parry, President. George R. Morrison, William Haines, 
Belford M. Bonham, Vice I'residents. Clayton Lippincott, Treas- 
urer. John Clement, Secretary. James Lippincott, Samuel P. 
Chew, Standing Committee. 



LRpFe'15 



